Evening wildlife report: One muskrat, four ducks, countless goldfish, one great blue heron, and another not-definitely-identified water bird: a juvenile green heron? Brown with white spots or streaks on its back. Long neck and pointed bill, but not as long or sharp as that of the great blue.

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Now that I’ve had a chance to look it up, I think the unidentified water bird was more likely an American bittern — the right shape and size, though the markings I saw are not exactly like the available pictures.

Wonder if that muskrat you saw was just passing through? I’ve been keeping a eye on the pond during my walks to and from work most weekdays, but have not spotted any for about 6 weeks or so. Prior to that, saw at least one member of the muskrat family at least every other day.

The re-growing vegetation on the pond periphery is a possible indication the muskrat population is outta there. Will keep looking since I want to see w/my own eyes, but until then guess I’m kinda doubtful about muskrats currently living in the pond.

MICATS (Michigan Coalition Against Tar Sands) is reporting that two of its protesters have been arrested for locking their necks with bicycle U-locks to pipeline construction trucks being used for the Enbridge Line 6B pipeline expansion. [Source]

In a roundup of the lineup for the Aug. 5, 2014 primary elections, we overstated by one year Ward 5 councilmember Chuck Warpehoski’s length of service as a council representative on the city’s environmental commission. He served in that capacity during his first year on the council. We note the error here and have corrected the original article.